International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Validating the medicinal potential of Leptadenia hastata

A. A. Aliero¹* and S. H. Wara²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 January, 2012

Abstract

Leptadenia hastata (Pers.) Decne is a wild plant used as vegetable by many African populations and medicine due to its nutritive and therapeutic properties for the treatment of wounds and stomach upset in children. Acetone, methanol and aqueous extracts from its leaves were investigated against five selected bacterial species and two fungal species. Aqueous extract markedly inhibited the growth of Salmonella paratyphi and Escherichia coli at 30 mg/ml and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 60 mg/ml. The activity exhibited by the methanol extract was generally low and acetone extract did not show any activity against the tested organisms. The result of antimycotic assay showed that methanol extract suppressed the growth of Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger at 80 mg/ml with inhibition percentages ranging from 58.89 to 73.30%. The activity of acetone extract was low with 40 and 50% inhibition on the growth of A. niger and F. oxysporum respectively. The result obtained in this study has provided a scientific support for the claimed ethnomedical uses of aqueous extracts of L. hastata in the treatment of bacterial diseases and suggest the potential of methanol extract as a source of antifungal agent.

Keywords: Leptadenia hastata, antibacterial, antifungal, wild vegetable, ethnomedicine.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-008, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A novel method for the determination of pregabalin in bulk pharmaceutical formulations and human urine samples

Rajinder Singh Gujral*, Sk Manirul Haque and Sanjeev Kumar

Vardhman Chemtech Ltd, Nimbua, Dera Bassi, Mohali, Punjab, India.

Accepted 12 November, 2011

Abstract

A simple isocratic reversed phase HPLC method was developed and validated for the analysis of pregabalin in bulk, pharmaceutical formulations and human urine samples, the separation was accomplished on a C₁₈ 5 µm ODS hypersil column (250 mm × 4.6 mm) using a methanol acetonitrile - 0.02 M di - potassium hydrogen orthophosphate (K ₂HPO ₄) (pH - 7.00) (3: 1: 16, v/v/v) mobile phase. The compound eluted isocratically at a flow rate of 1.0 ml /min. The UV detector was set at 210 nm for the detection of pregabalin. The method was linear over the range of 0.75 - 6.00 µg/ml. The method was validated with respect to accuracy, precision, linearity, ruggedness, limit of detection and limit of quantitation. Robustness testing was also conducted to evaluate the effect of minor changes to the chromatographic system and to establish appropriate system suitability parameters. This method was used successfully for the quality assessment of 5 pregabalin drug products and human urine samples with good precision and accuracy.

Key words: Pregabalin, isocratic system, validation, high performance liquid chromatography, pharmaceutical formulations, human urine samples.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Volatile constituents and antioxidant activity of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre essential oil

Jean Koudou¹*, Louis-Clément Obame², Brice S. Kumulungui³, Prosper Edou⁴, Gilles Figueredo⁵, Jean –Claude Chalchat⁶ and Alfred S. Traore¹

¹Laboratoire de chimie des substances naturelles, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Bangui, BP 908 Bangui

République Centrafricaine or 01 BP 134 Ouagadougou 01 Burkina Faso.

²Centre de Recherche en Sciences Biologiques, Alimentaires et Nutritionnelles, Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Biotechnologie, Université de Ouagadougou 03 BP7131 Ouagadougou Burkina Faso.

³Centre International de Recherche Médicale du Gabon (CIRMF) Franceville,Gabon.

⁴Ecole Normale Supérieure, laboratoire pluridisciplinaire de chimie, BP 7131 Libreville, Gabon.⁵LEXVA analytique, 460 rue du Montant, 63110 Beaumont, France.

⁶Laboratoire de chimie des hétérocycles et des glucides. Chimie des huiles essentielles, les Cezeaux, 63177 Aubière, France.

Accepted 02 January, 2012

Abstract

The essential oil isolated from the resin of Aucoumea klaineana Pierre (Burseraceae) by Hydrodistillation was analyzed by capillary gas chromatography (GC) and combined Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The analysis led to the identification of 28 components. This oil contained mainly monoterpenoids (96.06%) in which p-acetyl anisole is the single benzenic compound (0.18%). The predominant constituents in the essential oil were -3-carene (72.31%), p-cymene (3.76%), limonene (4.04%), terpinolene (6.28%) and -terpineol (4.34%). The essential oil showed antioxidant and weak DPPH radical scavenging activities and it displayed the inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Key words: Aucoumea klaineana, Burseraceae, essential oil, antioxidant activity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Anticonvulsant activity of Rauvolfia Vomitoria (Afzel)

Amole Olufemi Olatokunboh*, Yemitan Omoniyi Kayode and Oshikoya Kazeem Adeola

Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

Accepted 10 November, 2011

Abstract

The anticonvulsant activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Rauvolfia vomitoria (Afzel) was investigated by testing the effects of the extract on strychnine-, picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazole induced seizures in mice. Experiments were carried out on male albino mice and the animals were randomly allotted to the different control and test groups. The extract, at a dose of 200 mg/kg, prolonged the onset of seizures from strychnine, picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazole in the animals. Acute toxicity testing produced a medial lethal dose of 17.5 g/kg. Phytochemical screening of the plant reveals the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins and reducing sugars. The results indicate a possible efficacy potential of the aqueous leaf extract of R. vomitoria in convulsions.

Key words: Rauvolfia vomitoria, convulsion, phytochemical, acute toxicity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 001-005, February, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Central nervous system depressant and analgesic activity of Aphanamixis polystachya (Wall.) parker leaf extract in mice

Md. Mokarram Hossain*, Israt Jahan Biva, Rumana Jahangir and Md. Mynol Islam Vhuiyan

Laboratory of Pharmacognosy and Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Stamford University Bangladesh.

Accepted 16 November, 2011

Abstract

In the present study, we have investigated the possible CNS (Central Nervous System) depressant and analgesic action of the methanol extract of Aphanamixis polystachya leaf. Its CNS depressant activity was evaluated by using thiopental sodium- induced sleeping time, hole cross and open field tests. The analgesic activity was also investigated for its central and peripheral pharmacological actions using hot plate and tail immersion test and acetic acid -induced writhing test in mice respectively. The extract decreased the motor activity and exploratory behavior of mice in hole cross and open field test (p < 0.001). Moreover, the extract significantly maximized the duration of sleeping time when administered with thiopental sodium (p < 0.001). The extract, at the dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg, produced a significant (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) increase in pain threshold both in hotplate and tail immersion methods in a dose dependent manner. The results were comparable to the reference standard Nalbuphine. In acetic acid-induced writhing test, the extract (500 mg/kg) produced a maximum of 75.9% inhibition (p < 0.001) of writhing reaction compared to the reference drug Diclofenac-Na (10 mg/kg) (78.1%). These results suggest that the extract possesses strong CNS depressant and analgesic activity in mice.

Key words: Aphanamixis polystachya, CNS depressant activity, analgesic activity.

International Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology ISSN: 2326-7267 Vol. 3 (2), pp. 001-006, February, 2012. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Bioefficacies of Cassia fistula: An Indian labrum

M. Moshahid A. Rizvi*^1,2, Irshad M.¹, Gamal El Hassadi² and Salaem Ben Younis²

¹Genome Biology Laboratory, Department of Bioscience, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Dehi-110025. India.

²Department of Laboratory Medicine, High Institute of Medical Technology Derna, Libya.

Accepted 19 November, 2011

Abstract

Cassia fistula Linn, a semi-wild Indian labrum has been used in the treatment of various diseases in different parts of the world since time immemorial. In Indian literature there has been multiple descriptions regarding its usefulness in the treatment of various diseases. Some authors have reported its antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and hypoglycemic potentials. Many other authors have indicated towards the free radical scavenging and antioxidant potential of C. fistula both in vitro as well as in vivo. Despite this valuable available information on this plant there appears a vast virgin area of research on this plant to find out the real natural treasure. The antioxidant and hepatoprotective nature of Cassia fistula seems to depend on the total phenolic, proanthocyanidin and flavanoid contents of this labrum. This paper reviews all the experimental studies so far performed on C. fistula. This is likely to have important implications on designing any future research on this plant for their potential utility in herbal drug system or in nutritional supplements.

Key words: Cassia fistula Linn, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic.